Possible role of volcanic ash-gas clouds in the Earth's prebiotic chemistry

Basiuk, Vladimir A.; Navarro‐González, Rafael

doi:10.1007/bf01809854

Cited by 38 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 105 publications

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“…Theoretical approaches have shown that thermodynamic conditions of volcanic‐hydrothermal fluid reservoirs are consistent with those required for abiogenic synthesis of organic compounds [ Shock , 1990; Symonds and Reed , 1993; Wahrenberger , 1997; Shock and Schulte , 1998; Zolotov and Fegley , 1999; Zolotov and Shock , 2000; Wahrenberger et al , 2002]. Formation of abiogenic hydrocarbons was proposed to occur in a range of natural environments in the Earth's crust [ Seward , 1974; Abrajano et al , 1988; Szatmari , 1989; Isidorov et al , 1990; Sugisaki and Mimura , 1994; Kenney , 1995; Basiuk and Navarro ‐ González , 1996; Berndt et al , 1996; Giggenbach , 1997; Salvi and Williams ‐ Jones , 1997; Gize , 1999; Kelley and Früth ‐ Green , 2001; Sherwood Lollar et al , 2002; Taran et al , 2002; Taran and Cienfuegos , 2008; Etiope et al , 2011]. However, reliable geochemical parameters able to unequivocally identify abiogenic hydrocarbons in natural fluids have still not been identified.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geogenic and atmospheric sources for volatile organic compounds in fumarolic emissions from Mt. Etna and Vulcano Island (Sicily, Italy)

et al. 2012

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In this paper, fluid source(s) and processes controlling the chemical composition of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas discharges from Mt. Etna and Vulcano Island (Sicily, Italy) were investigated. The main composition of the Etnean and Volcano gas emissions is produced by mixing, to various degrees, of magmatic and hydrothermal components. VOCs are dominated by alkanes, alkenes and aromatics, with minor, though significant, concentrations of O‐, S‐ and Cl(F)‐substituted compounds. The main mechanism for the production of alkanes is likely related to pyrolysis of organic‐matter‐bearing sediments that interact with the ascending magmatic fluids. Alkanes are then converted to alkene and aromatic compounds via catalytic reactions (dehydrogenation and dehydroaromatization, respectively). Nevertheless, an abiogenic origin for the light hydrocarbons cannot be ruled out. Oxidative processes of hydrocarbons at relatively high temperatures and oxidizing conditions, typical of these volcanic‐hydrothermal fluids, may explain the production of alcohols, esters, aldehydes, as well as O‐ and S‐bearing heterocycles. By comparing the concentrations of hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) in the fumarolic discharges with respect to those of background air, it is possible to highlight that they have a geogenic origin likely due to halogenation of both methane and alkenes. Finally, chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) abundances appear to be consistent with background air, although the strong air contamination that affects the Mt. Etna fumaroles may mask a possible geogenic contribution for these compounds. On the other hand, no CFCs were detected in the Vulcano gases, which are characterized by low air contribution. Nevertheless, a geogenic source for these compounds cannot be excluded on the basis of the present data.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Geogenic and atmospheric sources for volatile organic compounds in fumarolic emissions from Mt. Etna and Vulcano Island (Sicily, Italy)

et al. 2012

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“…The specialist literature on the origin of life and molecular evolution contains many ideas and experimental data that link up nicely with the above literature from the chemical industry and mineralogy: early solar system (118); carbonaceous chondrites (119,120); heavy meteorite bombardment (121,122); geological setting of earliest life forms (123); ancient sediments (124,125); hot springs and oceans (126,127); prebiological activity in volcanic processes (128,129); alteration of obsidian to zeolites (130); adsorption of small molecules, including amino acids and growth of peptide chains, on macroporous silica (131-136); asymmetric adsorption by quartz (137); synthesis of amino acids on X-and Y-type faujasite zeolites (138); energy from feldspar and silica radioactivity and strain (139); heterogeneous chemistry on minerals (140); synthesis of oligopeptides with Beta, mordenite, faujasite, and kaolinite (141); models for prebiotic synthesis of RNA on aluminous zeolites (142) and montmorillonite (143); binding of adenine to montmorillonite and hydroxylapatite (144); instability of adenine in water (145); possible role of catalytic RNA (146-151); molecular replication (152); in vitro evolution of nucleic acids (153); origin and amplification of biomolecular chirality (154); chiral symmetry breaking during self-assembly of monolayers from chiral purine (155); kinetic cooperativity in prebiotic catalysts (156); crucial stages in origin of animate matter (157); and sequence of biological chirality (158).…”

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confidence: 91%

Biochemical evolution. I. Polymerization on internal, organophilic silica surfaces of dealuminated zeolites and feldspars

Smith

1998

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

117

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Catalysis at mineral surfaces might generate replicating biopolymers from simple chemicals supplied by meteorites, volcanic gases, and photochemical gas reactions. Many ideas are implausible in detail because the proposed mineral surfaces strongly prefer water and other ionic species to organic ones. The molecular sieve silicalite (Union Carbide; ‫؍‬ Al-free Mobil ZSM-5 zeolite) has a three-dimensional, 10-ring channel system whose electrically neutral Si-O surface strongly adsorbs organic species over water. Three -O-Si tetrahedral bonds lie in the surface, and the fourth Si-O points inwards. In contrast, the outward Si-OH of simple quartz and feldspar crystals generates their ionic organophobicity. The ZSM-5-type zeolite mutinaite occurs in Antarctica with boggsite and tschernichite (Al-analog of Mobil Beta). Archean mutinaite might have become de-aluminated toward silicalite during hot/cold/wet/dry cycles. Catalytic activity of silicalite increases linearly with Al-OH substitution for Si, and Al atoms tend to avoid each other. Adjacent organophilic and catalytic Al-OH regions in nanometer channels might have scavenged organic species for catalytic assembly into specific polymers protected from prompt photochemical destruction. Polymer migration along weathered silicic surfaces of micrometer-wide channels of feldspars might have led to assembly of replicating catalytic biomolecules and perhaps primitive cellular organisms. Silica-rich volcanic glasses should have been abundant on the early Earth, ready for crystallization into zeolites and feldspars, as in present continental basins. Abundant chert from weakly metamorphosed Archaean rocks might retain microscopic clues to the proposed mineral adsorbent/catalysts. Other framework silicas are possible, including ones with laevo/dextro one-dimensional channels. Organic molecules, transition-metal ions, and P occur inside modern feldspars.

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“…Comparison of terrestrial atmospheric electrical parameters in fair weather, thunderclouds and volcanic plumes (afterBasiuk and Navarro-Gonzá lez 1996) …”

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confidence: 99%

Electrification of volcanic plumes

2006

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Volcanic lightning, perhaps the most spectacular consequence of the electrification of volcanic plumes, has been implicated in the origin of life on Earth, and may also exist in other planetary atmospheres. Recent years have seen volcanic lightning detection used as part of a portfolio of developing techniques to monitor volcanic eruptions. Remote sensing measurement techniques have been used to monitor volcanic lightning, but surface observations of the atmospheric electric Potential Gradient (PG) and the charge carried on volcanic ash also show that many volcanic plumes, whilst not sufficiently electrified to produce lightning, have detectable electrification exceeding that of their surrounding environment. Electrification has only been observed associated with ash-rich explosive plumes, but there is little evidence that the composition of the ash is critical to its occurrence. Different conceptual theories for charge generation and separation in volcanic plumes have been developed to explain the disparate observations obtained, but the ash fragmentation mechanism appears to be a key parameter. It is unclear which mechanisms or combinations of electrification mechanisms dominate in different circumstances. Electrostatic forces play an important role in modulating the dry fallout of ash from a volcanic plume. Beyond the local electrification of plumes, the higher stratospheric particle concentrations following a large explosive eruption may affect the global atmospheric electrical circuit. It is possible that this might present another, if minor, way by which large volcanic eruptions affect global climate. The direct hazard of volcanic lightning to communities is generally low compared to other aspects of volcanic activity.

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Possible role of volcanic ash-gas clouds in the Earth's prebiotic chemistry

Cited by 38 publications

References 105 publications

Geogenic and atmospheric sources for volatile organic compounds in fumarolic emissions from Mt. Etna and Vulcano Island (Sicily, Italy)

Geogenic and atmospheric sources for volatile organic compounds in fumarolic emissions from Mt. Etna and Vulcano Island (Sicily, Italy)

Biochemical evolution. I. Polymerization on internal, organophilic silica surfaces of dealuminated zeolites and feldspars

Electrification of volcanic plumes

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